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~Valerie's POV~
The wall behind me was cold, but his body wasn't. Dristan stood so close, every breath I took brushed against his chest.
His eyes were darker now, edged with something between anger and frustration.
I shoved at him, palms flat against his chest. "Speak," I snapped. "Stop trying to intimidate me."
He smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "If I was trying to intimidate you, you'd know."
My heart thudded, but I refused to look away. "Then stop acting like you're above everyone else. I'm not a fan of your on-and-off support. One second you're defending me, the next, you're throwing me to the wolves."
He leaned in slightly, jaw tight. "Funny. I should be saying that to you. One minute you're accusing me of hurting people, and the next, you're playing detective on my behalf."
"You left me no choice," I hissed, meeting his stare.
"I was only analysing and looking for the best way to help you out."
"Way put?! You call that a way out?"
"Yeah, what was yours? Running? I know you did it for me but I never wanted you to do so to the point ofputting yourself at jeopardy. Why didn't you come to me?"
"I was going to but what did I meet, your judgement."
"Yeah right. Is that the lie you tell yourself?"
That did it. His eyes flashed. In a heartbeat, he was closer, his hand gripping my chin firmly but not painfully.
"Everyone has a choice, Valerie," he said lowly, each word deliberate. "And yours was to throw me under the bus."
Anger flared, sharp and fast. I bit his hand. Hard.
He grunted, jerking back, his thumb brushing over the faint mark my teeth had left.
"You can say that without being this close, you know," I snapped, glaring at him.
But instead of backing off, he stepped right into my space again. His wild scent wrapped around me. "You talk too much," he murmured, and before I could retort, his lips crashed onto mine.
It wasn't gentle. It was a clash of heat and stubborn pride, a battle neither of us intended to lose. I pushed at his chest, but he only deepened the kiss, his hand sliding behind my neck.
When I finally tore away, breathless, I glared up at him. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he said, voice rough. "But it wasn't easy, Valerie. You think I left because I wanted to?" His gaze softened, just a fraction. "Every hour I was gone, suspicion followed me like a curse."
I blinked, my anger faltering. "You could have told me," I said quietly. "You didn't have to disappear."
His expression hardened again. "You're not innocent either. You hid things from me. Like the fact Kieran suspected me long before anyone else."
My throat tightened. Guilt prickled through me as I looked down. "I didn't want to believe it…"
"You broke my trust with that little doubt of yours, love."
Then something clicked in my mind—something I'd half-forgotten. I lifted my gaze back to his. "Dristan… is it true?"
His brow furrowed. "True what?"
"That you killed…" I hesitated, swallowing hard. I know now wasn't the right time and I did not want him accusing me of doubting him again.
But the way we ended that conversation back at their house wasn't at all ended.
No one knew what to believe anymore. We all had questions but Ash seemed so sure of himself.
He told us he couldn't state his source but he was pretty sure that was the answer to the truth, because right after his personal trip with his mother, where she died, Dristan got his blue eyes.
"No."
"Valerie, come on, talk to me. Don;t hold out."
Hearing him say that with all sincerity and seriousness that i stuutered.
"Valerie."
I lifted my palm to stop him. "Stop okay. I do not want to you thinking I am doubting you."
"Then why did you ask?"
"I…" I wanted to respond but the words got caught. "Forget what I said."
I tried to leave, move at least but Dristan wasn't having it. His right hand had my escape route blocked and he inched his face closer to me.
"Speak."
I felt Astra stir within me. She loved the challenge from our mate and I had to say I was feeling the same.
I shut my eyes to shake the effect he had on me off.
"Say it Valerie. I won't ask again."
"Or what?" my stupid mouth challenged and trusting Dristan, he did the exact same thing as before with no escape room for me.
He kissed me deeply again. Immediately, my minmd drifted to Ace and I pushed at chest. "Dristan stop, please. I know this may sound so… but I'm dating Ace now and you know it."
He nodded, swallowing as he cleared his throat. "I'm… I'm sorry. It won't happen agan. Soren just got so needy."
"Soren now? Blaming the poor wolf are we?"
"Don't change the subject."
"I'm not. I… It's something about why you and Ash fought back when they transferred."
Dristan's brows furrowed. And oh yes I knew he recalled pretty much.
"What?"

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